The Lure of Blue-Collar Workers in Hard TimesIn Hard Times, Charles Dickens gives us a close-up look at what appears to be the ivory tower of the bourgeoisie of his era, However, these middle-class characters are considered from a singular angle, that of those who find themselves at the bottom of the social and economic system. Although Dickens's characters tend to be well-developed and presented with a thoroughly human quality, the stereotypical figure of the arrogant and demanding Bounderby fails to accurately capture the motivations and attitudes of the man of typical successful business of the time and is an indication of the author's political motivations. . Hard Times, rather than presenting a historically accurate picture of the extraordinary changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution, is a one-sided attack on the utilitarian value system of the mid-19th century, based on emotional appeals from blue-collar workers to the sympathy of workers who are not uncommon in today's business environment. Josiah Bounderby of Coketown represents the utilitarian attitude and, as such, is the villain of the story and clearly the target of Dickens's political argument. Dickens describes Bounderby as a powerful individual, motivated by greed and guided by a distorted view of human nature. He is the only wealthy industrialist featured in Hard Times, although Mr. Sleary could arguably be considered the more virtuous businessman. Dickens clearly portrays Bounderby as a greedy, individualistic and selfish capitalist; rather than an insightful, forward-looking craftsman of a new industrial era. Dickens cleverly weaves his political enemy into a pompous and arrogant image reinforced by traditional working-class themes that lead the reader to conclude that Bounderby, ...... middle of paper ...... a born and truly Humanity should strive for the benefit of all classes of its citizens. Works Cited Coolidge, Archibald C., Jr. Charles Dickens as a serial novelist. Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press, 1967. Hayek, F.A., ed. Capitalism and historians. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1954. Laughlin, J. Lawrence. Elements of political economy. New York, NY: 1896. Malthus, Thomas. First essay on population, 1798. London, England: Macmillan & Company. 1926.Marx, Karl. "Capital." Great Books of the Western World. Flight. 50. Ed. Robert Hutchins. Chicago, IL: Encyclopædia Britannica. 1982. Veblen, Thorstein. Selected Writings of Thorstein Veblen. Ed. Wesley C. Mitchell. New York, NY: Viking Press. 1947. Wilson, John F. History of British Business: 1720-1994. Manchester, England: Manchester University Press. 1995.